Emma Heming Willis, the wife of retired US actor Bruce Willis, has spoken for the first time publicly about how his brain is now failing him and his language is going. The Die Hard star, 70, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia more than three years ago.
Bruce is still very mobile. Bruce is in really great health overall, you know, she told ABC News via Good Morning America on Tuesday. It's just his brain that is failing him. The author of an upcoming book about her family's experience with dementia, Heming Willis also advocated for fellow carers. The language is going, and, you know, we've learned to adapt, she added. And we have a way of communicating with him, which is just a... different way.
The Willis family revealed in 2023 that the star had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, which, according to the NHS website, is an uncommon type of dementia that causes problems with behaviour and language. Model and entrepreneur Heming Willis said she thought at first she had to help her husband all by herself, which led to sleepless nights and withdrawal from social life. She hopes her new book, titled *Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope, and Yourself on the Caregiving Path*, will serve as a guide for other carers.
Emma remarked about the small but precious moments they share as a family: Not days, but we get moments. It's his laugh, right? He has such a hearty laugh. And sometimes you'll see that twinkle in his eye, or that smirk, and I just get transported.
She was speaking ahead of ABC's special, *Emma & Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey*, which airs in the US. It will be available for streaming the following day on Disney+ and Hulu.
Bruce is still very mobile. Bruce is in really great health overall, you know, she told ABC News via Good Morning America on Tuesday. It's just his brain that is failing him. The author of an upcoming book about her family's experience with dementia, Heming Willis also advocated for fellow carers. The language is going, and, you know, we've learned to adapt, she added. And we have a way of communicating with him, which is just a... different way.
The Willis family revealed in 2023 that the star had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, which, according to the NHS website, is an uncommon type of dementia that causes problems with behaviour and language. Model and entrepreneur Heming Willis said she thought at first she had to help her husband all by herself, which led to sleepless nights and withdrawal from social life. She hopes her new book, titled *Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope, and Yourself on the Caregiving Path*, will serve as a guide for other carers.
Emma remarked about the small but precious moments they share as a family: Not days, but we get moments. It's his laugh, right? He has such a hearty laugh. And sometimes you'll see that twinkle in his eye, or that smirk, and I just get transported.
She was speaking ahead of ABC's special, *Emma & Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey*, which airs in the US. It will be available for streaming the following day on Disney+ and Hulu.
